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Public Procurement in Malta
Public Procurement in Malta represents a significant component of public expenditure in a high-income, EU-member economy with a highly developed regulatory and institutional framework. Public procurement supports the delivery of public services, infrastructure investment, and economic policy objectives across all sectors of government.
The procurement system in Malta is centrally coordinated and fully digitized, operating under EU-aligned procurement regulations. Procurement activities are conducted through standardized procedures and are subject to strong transparency, competition, and oversight requirements.
For domestic suppliers, SMEs, and international companies, government tenders in Malta offer a mature, data-rich, and highly transparent procurement market, particularly in infrastructure, health, ICT, utilities, and public administration.
Country & Economic Overview
| Country | Malta |
| Region | Middle East and North Africa |
| Population | 563,000 (2024) |
| Income Level | High-income economy |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| GDP | USD 21.2 billion (2024) |
| GNI | USD 19.3 billion (2024) |
| GNI per Capita | USD 34,800 (2024) |
Malta’s economy is service-oriented and highly integrated into the European single market. Public procurement plays a strategic role not only in acquiring goods and services, but also in advancing sustainability, SME participation, digitalization, and EU policy objectives.
Public Procurement Governance Framework
The governance of public procurement in Malta is centralized under the Department of Contracts, which acts as both the regulatory authority and the central purchasing body.
| Public Procurement Agency (PPA) | Department of Contracts |
| Is PPA a Central Purchasing Body | Yes |
| Sectors Covered | Agriculture, Education, Energy, Finance, Health, Industry & Trade, ICT, Public Administration, Social Protection, Transport, Water & Waste |
| Relevant Ministry | Finance and Employment |
| Geographic Coverage | National |
The Department of Contracts oversees procurement policy, tender publication, evaluation procedures, contract award approvals, and post-award compliance across the public sector.
Legal & Regulatory Framework
The public procurement law in Malta is governed by Subsidiary Legislation 601.03 - Public Procurement Regulations, fully aligned with EU procurement directives.
- Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT): Regulation 239
- Life Cycle Costing: Regulation 240
- Sustainability: Regulation 164(7)
- SME Participation: Schedule 9
- Public Bid Openings: Regulations 12, 16, 71, 79, 110
- Complaint Resolution: Regulations 276 and 286
The regulatory framework provides detailed rules on tendering methods, evaluation criteria, disclosure obligations, remedies, and judicial review.
Procurement Procedures & Thresholds
Procurement procedures in Malta strictly follow EU and national thresholds and timelines.
- Bid validity period: 90 days for goods, works, and services.
- Standstill period regulated under Regulation 271.
- Advertisement periods regulated under Regulation 52.
- Direct contract awards permitted below local thresholds.
- Average time from advertisement to contract award: 145 days.
- Average bid evaluation time: 48 days.
All high-value contracts are published on the EU Official Journal where applicable.
E-Procurement System in Malta
The eProcurement system in Malta operates through the Electronic Public Procurement System (ePPS), branded as eTenders.
| System Name | eTenders (ePPS) |
| Launch Year | 2011 |
| Core Functionalities | ePublishing, eTendering, eEvaluation, eCatalogues, eContract Management, Reverse Auctions |
| Supported Language | English |
| Supported Currency | Euro |
| Tender Documents Downloadable | Yes |
| Certified Professionals | 490 |
The system is based on a Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solution developed by European Dynamics and is fully government-managed.
Procurement Market Characteristics
Malta operates one of the most data-transparent procurement markets in Europe.
- Annual Tenders: 7,062 valued at USD 2.94 billion
- Annual Contracts: 4,175 valued at USD 931 million
- Awards to SMEs: 4,020 contracts valued at USD 691.9 million
- Open Procedures: 4,057 awards
- Direct Awards: 118 contracts
Average bidder participation ranges between 3.05 and 3.5 bidders per tender across procurement categories.
Transparency, Complaints & Oversight
The procurement system provides strong remedies and oversight mechanisms. The average complaint resolution period is 12 days, with 157 complaints under investigation during the reporting period.
In total, 1,952 procurement procedures were cancelled, reflecting active quality control and regulatory scrutiny.
Sustainability & Green Public Procurement
Malta has one of the most advanced green public procurement frameworks in Europe.
- Green procurement is mandatory through policy instruments.
- Second National Action Plan guides GPP implementation.
- GPP compliance is monitored through ePPS modules and weekly checks.
- 670 contracts valued at USD 49.38 million applied GPP criteria.
Social & Ethical Procurement Considerations
Malta enforces compliance with international labour, social, and environmental standards. Suppliers may be excluded for violations of labour law, environmental law, or international conventions.
Key Challenges & Practical Insights for Bidders
- High compliance and documentation requirements
- Mandatory use of the eTenders platform
- Strong competition, particularly from domestic SMEs
- Strict GPP and sustainability compliance checks
Practical bidding tips
- Register and maintain vendor compliance on eTenders.
- Review procurement regulations and circulars carefully.
- Prepare ESG and labour compliance documentation early.
- Monitor GPP requirements and sector-specific criteria.
Overall, Public Procurement in Malta offers a highly transparent, EU-aligned, and data-rich procurement environment with strong opportunities for compliant domestic and international suppliers.
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